Filming for a major BBC series in Egypt has been hit, allegedly, by the 'Curse of the Pharoahs'. Nonsense, says a Midland descendant of the tomb-openers. Richard Edmonds meets John Carter.
When a member of your family happens to be the man who opened the fabulous tomb of Tutankhamun, it is obvious that the love of antiques is in your blood.
John Carter, a well-known dealer in the Black Country, is a descendant on his grandfather's side of the world famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter.
He claims to have what he calls the "Carter Hunch". He says that if he could sell it canned and labelled, he would be a billionaire.
It has to be said that the Carter Hunch is less well known than the curse associated with the 1923 Carter expedition.
The legend began when Lord Carnarvon, who funded Carter's adventure, died from an infected mosquito bite on his cheek. Over the next few years another ten people associated with the expedition perished.
The "curse" has been repeatedly debunked by experts who point out that the average age of those who died was 70.
"Howard Carter died peacefully after a long and eventful life," says John. "So much for curses."
But the world loves a good myth and the curse endures. It's back in the news to explain a catalogue of horrors in filming the BBC's new series, Egypt, to be screened soon.
Illness, bad weather and sandstorms have pushed the six-hour series way over budget. No-one has died but the Press have eagerly referred to the old curse.
John Carter meanwhile dismisses the legend as pure nonsense and gives thanks for his blessing - the Carter Hunch.
"It's just a feeling you get, a kind of hunch. It's a bit like a water diviner feeling his twigs twitching. There's a stream at the bottom of my garden, and somehow things just keep turning up.
"Recently I found some 17th Century slipware pottery made in Stourport, and I've also come across keys, coins and Oriental porcelain."
He is an auctioneer based in Cleobury Mortimer who holds a two-monthly sale at Blakedown Parish Rooms for Walton and Hipkiss.
"Obviously I visit clients who have antiques that they wish to dispose of. As you give a valuation of glass, porcelain, furniture, paintings or whatever, you occasionally get a feeling, a kind of tremor, and sometimes you quickly revise your opinion, because quality will out."
A few months ago a beautifully-carved Victorian chess set turned up. Made in India under the Raj, it had a knock-out beauty. The owners said they would be happy with £100, but in the event it went to a London dealer for £14,000.
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